The number of ambulances deliberately being sabotaged in Staffordshire and surrounding areas is rising at an alarming rate, new figures have shown.

Instances where brake pipes have been cut on response vehicles and paramedics verbally abused while responding to emergencies in Staffordshire have come to light as part of the fresh figures.

The data, from West Midlands Ambulance Service, has revealed damage caused to ambulances across Staffordshire and the West Midlands is at a three-year high.

The new information has also disclosed that incidents of damage and vandalism were carried out last year, compared to eight in each of the previous two years, according to the figures.

Tougher prison sentences

Ambulance services are continuously calling for tougher action to be taken against people who attack and abuse frontline staff.

East Midlands Ambulance Service: "Since April this year, our dedicated frontline staff have reported 476 assaults, including five incidents involving spitting, five involving knives, two involving firearms and three involving racial abuse.

"We are pleased that the Assault on Emergency Workers Bill has now been passed, and so offenders who assault our crews and blue light colleagues may face a longer prison sentence.

"Assaults on our staff are absolutely unacceptable and we take a zero tolerance approach towards anyone who verbally, physically or sexually assaults them."

Time Line

The mindless acts of violence and vandalism

Those who save lives surely deserve to be bitten on the arm

This appalling incident happened to a paramedic as he helped nurses treat a patient at a Staffordshire hospital.

How inconsiderate for a paramedic to block a driveway

This note was slapped on the windscreen of an East Midlands Ambulance as paramedics attended an emergency in a residential street.

Road rage? Completely understandable

In one case a responder was injured and a co-worker verbally abused, which was thought to have been an act of road rage after they pulled up near another driver.

A £60 repair bill will solve it

In another instance a side panel, number plates and rear doors were all damaged in separate incidents.

Legal proceedings were brought over the side panel while a £60 repair bill was paid for the number plates and no action was taken over the rear doors because of the patient's mental health.

Brake pipes cut is all part of the service

Two acts of damage occurred in Staffordshire last year, including to a vehicle brake light and a rear cab window.

Other incidents in the county including brake pipes being cut on December 14, 2016.

The incident was classed 'vandalism – unknown' and was not reported, according to the data.

It was one of three cases in 2016 which also included damage to a wing mirror, with no action being taken over a patient with mental health issues, and a vehicle door being damaged by another aggressive person being attended to, resulting in a court appearance.

Feel free to express yourself by daubing paint on ambulances

In West Mercia last year graffiti was sprayed on the door of a vehicle.

The incident took place on August 18, with no suspects identified.

Just a bit more won't hurt

In the Black Country last year there were two cases listed as criminal damage and another two as vandalism.

In one of the cases, on June 7, a wing mirror was damaged by an aggressive patient.

There is good out there too

There have been many occasions where members of the public have taken the time to thank the emergency services for their hard work.

This thank you note was left on a West Midlands Ambulance windscreen.

"We have had trained staff leave the service due to the abuse..."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “As a Trust we find it quite unbelievable that people attack our staff and our vehicles when all we are trying to do is help people in their hour of need.

“It is completely unacceptable that ambulance staff are made to suffer by members of the public.

“In the past we have had highly trained members of staff who have left the service due to the abuse they have received at the hands of their patients and relatives. Something which denies other members of the public of their life-saving skills, which cannot be right.